Global stocks, sterling surge as Brexit momentum weakens in polls

By Edward Krudy

4 Min Read

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., June 9, 2016.Brendan McDermid

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Global stock indexes jumped on Monday and sterling posted its strongest gain since 2008 after polls showed support for Britain staying in the EU strengthened before Thursday's referendum.

At the start of what could be a frenetic weak for global markets, safe-haven assets such as government bonds and gold retreated. Monday's surge in equities saw Wall Street recover losses from last week, when the chances of the United Kingdom exiting the EU, or "Brexit", appeared to be growing.

The surge in sterling, which rose more than 2 percent against the dollar, coincided with a broad retreat in the greenback as several polls showed the "Leave" campaign weakening. Markets will likely remain volatile and headline-driven in the run-up to the vote, which appears too close to call.

"If I had a seatbelt while watching the markets, I'd put it on," said Kim Forrest, senior equity research analyst at Fort Pitt Capital Group in Pittsburgh.

Two polls showed "In" regaining the lead and another showed the "Out" campaign's lead narrowing, though the overall picture was of an evenly-split electorate. Bookmakers' odds have shown those wishing to stay in the EU ahead, and Betfair put the implied probability of a vote to "Remain" at 72 percent on Monday, up from 60-67 percent on Friday.

"Everyone is going to hold their breath until Thursday or Friday, when we get to know the result," said Adam Hewison, chief executive of Ino.com in Maryland.

Gold XAU=, another safety play, fell 0.7 percent to just below $1,289 an ounce. It rose 1.5 percent on Friday for its biggest single-day gain since June 3.

The "risk on" move was more pronounced in Europe. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index .FTEU3 added 3.7 percent, led by a 4.5 percent rise in banks .SX7P, while Britain's blue-chip FTSE 100 index .FTSE chalked up a 3-percent gain.

Sterling rose as far as $1.4707 and was last up 2.3 percent at $1.4681 GBP=, having hit a two-week low of $1.4013 on Thursday. It soared 2 percent to 152.49 yen GBPJPY= and 1.9 percent against the euro to 77.05 pence EURGBP=.

EURO GAINS AS BREXIT WORRIES EASE

The euro, which has suffered due to concern that the United Kingdom's departure could weaken the 28-member bloc, strengthened 0.3 percent to $1.1311 EUR=, after rising as far as $1.1382.

The yen, often sought by investors in times of market tension, fell 0.2 percent to 103.89 per dollar JPY=. The dollar fell 0.6 percent against a basket of currencies .DXY.

German 10-year government debt DE10YT=TWEB yielded 0.059 percent, up from a record low of minus 0.037 percent on Thursday.

Oil prices, which have also been under pressure, extended Friday's gains. Brent crude LCOc1 topped $50 a barrel for the first time since June 14. It settled on Monday at $50.65, up $1.48 on the day.

Additional reporting by Shinichi Saoshiro in Tokyo, Anirban Nag, Jemima Kelly and John Geddie in London; editing by Nick Zieminski